Washing machine



OCL 7, 1941A l E. FABER 2,258,244

WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 16, 1937 65 Z Inventor;

5 Erich FCL er;

6 bg W51) His Attovneg Patent 2,161,618, referred to above.

s Patented Oct. 7, 1941 WASHING MACHINE Erich Faberrridgeport, Conn., assigner to General Electric Company,

York

a corporation o! New Original application October 16, 1937, Serial No. l

1940, serai No. 339,912

' s claims. (CL ca -2s) This application is a division of my applicaj tion Serial No. 169,421, filedOctober 16, 1937.

The present invention relates to washing ma'- chines of the type having a rotatable receptacle in which the clothes are washed and centrlfugally dried, the washing 'being effected by an agitator in the receptacle and the drying being effected by rotating the receptacle.

The object ofV my invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement for driving the receptacle, and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, at.

tention is vdirected to the following description and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevation, partlysin section, of a washing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper end of the vdriving shaft showing the arrangement for supportingl and driving the agitator and receptacle; Fig. 3

, which is partially closed by an annular cover 2 having a flange 3 which fits within the upper end of the tub. 'I'he cover has a projecting bead cover 3 which rests on the inner edge of the annular cover 2 completes the closure of the upper end of the tub. Below the lower end of the tub I is a base 6 suitably supported, for example by casters 1. The base carries a gear casing 8 containing the mechanism for operating the washing machine which may, for example, be'that of The base carriesV a cylindrical skirt 9 whichv covers the junction between the base and the lower end of the tub.

Fixed tothe upper side of the gear casing 8 is a tubular post I which projects upwardly through aligned openings inthe base and the bottom of the tub. The tub and base are .clamped to the post III by a clamping ring II on the upper side of the tub bottom by means of screws I2 threaded through the clamping ring into a flange I3 integral with the post I0. Suitable gaskets are arranged between the surfaces clampedbetween the flange and clamping ring.

Projecting from the gear casing 8 is a vertical drive shaft Il having a brake drum I keyed l 4 which rests on the upper edge of the tub. A

Divided and this application June 11,

thereto. The brake drum is connected to a -vertical shaft I6 by means of a universal joint which comprises diametrically 4opposed pins 'I'I flxed in ears I8 integral with the brake drum. The pins are journaled in bearings I9 clamped between I plates 20 which comprise the intermediate member of the'universal joint. Midway between the pins I'I are diametrcally opposed pins 2| projecting from the shaft I8 and likewise journaled in bearings 22 similarly clamped between the plates 20. With this construction, the vertical shaft I6 is free to tilt in all directions with respect to the drive shaft I 4.

The shaft I 6 projects upwardly through a sleeve I 23 the upper end of which projects above the maximum water level in the tub I. The lower end of the sleeve 23 is resiliently supported by a mounting which comprises annuluses 2l and 25 of rubber or other suitable resilient material arranged within the tubular post I0. The annulus 24 is arranged between an inwardly extending flange 26 integral with the post. I0 and an outwardly extending flange 21 integral with a sleeve 28 :Iixed to the sleeve 23. The annulus 25 is arranged between the upper side of the flange 21 and a washer 29 which is clamped against the upper surface of the annulus by a nut 30 threaded into the upper end of the post. The inner surface of the annulus 25 bears against a sleeve 3| fixed to the lsleeve 23. 'I'hesleeve-3| has the same outside diameteras the sleeve 28 so that the annuluses 2l and 25 may be of the same size. The flexibility oi' the vresilient mounting for the sleeve 23 is adjusted by the nut30 which varies the compression of the annuluses and thereby varies the stiffness of the mounting. 'With this arrangement the sleeve 23 isresiliently supported for gyratory movement about a vertical axis with respect to the driving shaft I4. Leakage around the lower end of the sleeve 23 is prevented by a -cover 32 of flexible waterproof material one end of which is clamped between the clamping ring I I and the bottom of the tub and the other end of which is clamped to the sleeve 23 by means of a clamp 33. In the upper end of the sleeve 23 is upper edge of the receptacle through perforations 36 in the guard ring. At the inner edge of the guard ring is a vertical flange 36 terminating in an inwardly rolled edge 40 which provides a hand grip by means of which the receptacle may be lifted.

Fixed at the center of the receptacle is a vertical hub 4| the upper end of which projects above the upper ends of the side walls 36 and` is therefore above the water level in the receptacle. In the lower end of the hub 4| is Xed a sleeve bearing 42 of self-lubricating material which bears on the shaft I6. In the upper end of the hub 4| is xed a combined sleeve and thrust bearing 43, also of self-lubricating material, the inner surface of which bears on a sleeve 44 and the lower end of which bears 'on a washer 45. At the upperend of the bearing 43 is a washer 46 which is held in place by the spunover portion 41 at the upper end of the hub 4|. The sleeve 44 is provided with splines which engage the splined end 48 of the shaft |6 and nonrotatably secure the sleeve tothe shaft. The lower end of the sleeve 44 'rests on a shoulder 49 on the shaft. Projecting from the lower end of the sleeve 44 is a flange 56 on the upper side of which is arranged washers or disks of friction material and an intermediate metal washer 52. The weight of the receptacle resting on the upper surface of the washer 45 clamps the washers against the flange 50 and provides a slip con nection between the washer 52 and the sleeve 44. 53 which cooperates with a stop 54 fixed to the inside of the hub 4|. As is evident from Fig. 3 the shaft I6 is normally free to oscillate through an angle of nearly 360 without causing engagef ment of the tongue 53 and stop 54. Upon continued rotation of the shaft the tongue 53 en gages the stop 54 and provides a driving connection from the shaft |6 to the receptacle. The

sleeve 44 and the parts assembled thereon are held in assembled relation by a snap ring 55 arranged in a groove on the sleeve on the upper side of the washer 46.

Bearing on the upper end of the sleeve 44 is a thrust washer 56 which supports a nut 51 provided with splines cooperating With splines 48 in the upper end of the shaft |6, and non-rotatably securing the nut to the shaft. The nut fits within a socket in the hub 56 of an agitator and non-rotatably secures the agitator to the shaft. The lower end .of the agitator hub rests on the projecting portion of the thrust washer 5.6. A cap 59, snapped in place over the upper end of the agitator hub, prevents leakage of water around the shaft. The agitator has a downwardly flaring tubular portion 60 which terminates in a disk 6| adjacent the bottom of the receptacle. Projecting from the tubular portion 60 and disk 6| are vanes 62 which agitate the Aliquid and clothes in the receptacle to effect the agitator and the washing speed desired. Durg ing this oscillation ofthe shaft I6, the receptacle is supported in rotatable relation to the shaft |6 by the bearings 42 and 43. It has been observed that the receptacle. will have a slight rotational movement due to variations in the in- 'I'he washer 52 has a tongue or projection ceptacle.

stantaneous speed of the oscillating shaft and to variations in the resistance offered by the clothes and liquid to the oscillation of the agitator. The rotation of the receptacle continues in one direction until the stop 54 on the receptacle hub is engaged by tongue 53 on the disk 52. Upon impact of the tongue 53 and stop 54 the receptacle is given an impulse which reverses the direction of its rotation and starts the rotation of the receptacle in the opposite direction. Due to the slip `connection between the disk 52 and the shaft I6 provided by the friction disks 5|, the impact between the tongue 53 and the stop 54 is cushioned and strains on the driving mechanism are decreased. At the completion of the washing operation the shaft |6 is rotated continuously in one direction. rDuring the rotation of the shaft the tongue 53 engages the stop 54 and completes the driving connection to the receptacle. The slip connection to the disk 52 cushions the impact between the tongue 53 and stop 54 and permits a gradual acceleration of the receptacle.

In Fig. 4, is shown an alternative arrangement for supporting and driving the agitator and re In this construction there is fixed to the shaft |6 a sleeve 63 having an inwardly eX- tending fiange 64 at its lower end `on which rests a combined sleeve and thrust bearing 65 of selflubricating material, pinned to the receptacle hub by pins 66. The vertical portion of the sleeve 63 guides the rotation of the receptacle, and the flange 64 takes the thrust. Above the upper end of the sleeve 63 is arranged a series of metal washers or disks 61 keyed to the shaft I6 by means of splines 66. Intermediate the disks 61 are metal disks 69 each of which is provided with a tongue 1l] of the same construction as the tongue 53 of the disk 52. The disks 69 are loose on the shaft I6. Between the disks 61 and 69 are arranged friction disks or washers 1| which are likewise loose on the shaft I6. The disks are pressed against the upper end of the sleeve 63 by a coil spring 12 arranged between the top washer 61 and a nut 13 threaded on the shaft |6. As in the previously described construction, the tongues 10 cooperate with the stop 54 fixed to the inside of the receptacle hub 4|. This arrangement provides a slip connection between the shaft I6 and the receptacle hub which functions in the same manner as the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The friction between the disks is adjustable by varying the compression of the spring 12 by means of the nut 13.

Above the upper end of the receptacle hub 4| is the hub 14 of an agitator which mayhave the same general construction as the agitator shown in Fig. `1. The lower edge of the agitator hub 14 rests on the upper surface of the nut 13, the nut serving as a thrust bearing for the agitator. The hub 14 is provided with a. socket 15 in which are splined metal disks 16. Intermediate thedisks 16 are metal disks 11 which are splined on the upper end of the shaft I6. I'he disks 16 are loose with respect to the shaft I6 and the disks 11 are loose with respect to the .agitator hub 14. Between the disks 16 and. 11 are disks 18 of friction material, loose or free with respect to the shaft and hub, which provide a friction or slip connection between the disks. 'Ihe disks are pressed together by a cupspring 19 arranged between the top disk 11 and a screw threaded into the upper end of the The screw is fixed in a cap 6| whichv shaft. provides a convenient grip for the operator for Aadjusting the pressure between' the disks.

By adjusting the cap 8| pressure between the disks may be varied from a position in which the disks are loose, in which case the agitator will remain stationary during the oscillation of the shaft, to a position in which the disks are so tightly pressed together that the agitator is in effect solid with respect to the shaft. In the intermediate positions of the cap Bl, the friction between the disks will be such that the disks will slip relative to each other at a predetermined force. With this arrangement, it is obvious that the angle of oscillation of the agitator can be varied from zero to a full stroke, thus securing a variation in the washing action of the agitator. During the full stroke of the oscillation of the agitator the maximum washing action will be obtained while during the partial stroke of the oscillation of the agitator a less severe washing action will be obtained. The less severe Washing action is more suitable for the more fragile clothes. The friction drive between the drive and the agitator also has the effect of reducing the shock on the driving mechanism on reversal of the shaft,

which decreases the strain on the driving mechanism and also decreases the noise which may arise due to clearance in the parts of the oscillating mechanism.

The above described construction for obtaining a variable stroke agitator drive is being claimed in the parent application of which the present application is a division.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: Y

l. In a washing machine, a, shaft, a receptacle for receiving material to be washed having a hub surrounding the shaft, said hub and shaft comprising relative rotatable members and the inner walls of the hub being spaced from the shaft and providing an annular space therebetween, means for selectively oscillating and rotating the shaft, and intertting parts located inthe space between the hub and shaftwone of the parts being connected to one of the members by a slip connection limiting the force on said members and the other of said parts being connected to the other of said members, and said parts having sufficient lost motion therebetween to permit oscillation of the shaft relative to the hub during oscillation of the shaft whilecompelling rotation of the hub upon continued rotation 0f the shaft.

2: In a washing machine, a shaft, a receptacle for receiving material to beV washed having a hub surrounding the shaft, said hub and shaft `comprising relative rotatable members and the inner walls of the hub being spaced from the shaft and providing an annular space therebetween, means for selectively oscillating and rotating the shaft, a stop on the inner walls of the hub, a disk telescoped over said shaft and having a slip connection with the shaft, and a tongue carried by the disk and arranged to engage the stop upon continued rotation of the shaft, there being sufficient lost motion between the tongue and stop to permit oscillation of the shaft relative to the hub during oscillation of the shaft.

3.v In a washing machine, a shaft, a receptacle for receiving material to be washed having a hub surrounding the shaft. said hub and shaft comprising relative rotatable members and the inner walls of the hub being spaced from the shaft and providing an annular space therebetween, means for selectively oscillating and rotating the shaft, a disk fixed to one of the rotatable members, a second disk frictionally connected thereto, said disks being telescopedover the shaft, a stop on the otherof said members,` and a projection carried by the second disk and arranged to engage the stop upon continued rotation of the shaft, there being s'umcient lost motion between the stop and plliection to permit oscillation of the shaft relative to the hub during oscillation of the shaft.

ERICH FABER. 

